CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Work
on the Capitol dome continues following the recent approval of a change order
to provide new support for the dome below the structure. This change comes
after engineers discovered additional damage to clay tiles directly beneath the
dome investigated as part of the dome moisture intrusion project. The tiles
were originally installed to serve as interior partitions to support the
finished plaster and were not intended to support the dome; the dome instead
used a comprehensive hanger system to suspend the dome in
place.
The
work that will be completed as part of the change order will include creating a
new support structure beneath the dome to provide continuous support, along
with rebuilding the damaged walls in the central rotunda beneath the dome. The
new support structure is necessary to fully support the dome and to prevent it
from moving while the walls are removed and rebuilt beneath the
dome.
“The
goal of this current change order is to allow the weight of the dome to rest on
material that is reliable, cost-effective, and proven to be long lasting,” said
Department of Administration Cabinet Secretary Allan McVey. “As with any
building, proper maintenance is key in preserving it, especially with a
historic and notable landmark like the West Virginia capitol building and its
symbolic dome.”
Due
to the age of the structure and the clay tile used in the original
construction, the new walls will be built with reinforced and grouted masonry
walls, which will be integrated with the existing structure to stabilize the
building, providing assurance that the building will remain intact for decades
to come.
While
the change order comes at a price, the work wasn’t completely unexpected for
this type of work. During the design phase for the moisture intrusion project,
it was not possible to fully investigate inside the dome walls without the
scaffolding that currently exists. The work completed as part of this change
order will add approximately 16 weeks to the final completion date of the
project at a cost of approximately $765,000.